Plumbers in Tempe, AZ

An inner-ring city next to Phoenix

Tempe is a landlocked Maricopa County city whose center sits about 8 miles from downtown Phoenix in a straight line. The 2020 Census counted 180,587 people. It is home to Arizona State University's main campus, with dense development in the north around Mill Avenue, Downtown Tempe and Tempe Town Lake, and lower-density neighborhoods to the south. Interstate 10, US 60, Loop 101 and Loop 202 all cross the city.

Where the water comes from

Most of Tempe's supply is Salt River Project surface water from the Salt and Verde watersheds, joined by city groundwater wells and Central Arizona Project water from the Colorado River. Treatment happens at the Johnny G. Martinez and South Tempe plants. The city disinfects with chlorine rather than chloramine and keeps the residual close to 1 mg/L, which matters for some water filters and softener resins.

Hardness is the bigger story. Tempe's report gives an average of 187 mg/L, about 10.9 grains per gallon, but a range from 9.5 all the way to 29 grains per gallon depending on the source feeding an area. Homes at the harder end see faster scale buildup in water heaters, more crusted aerators and shorter lives for valve cartridges.

Older housing and private lines

The median Tempe home was built around 1983, so a large share of houses are 40 years old or more. Water heaters, shutoff valves, supply lines and drain pipes in homes of that age often need attention. The city notes that lead in drinking water mainly comes from private service lines and home plumbing, and it is identifying the material of privately owned service lines as part of its service line inventory.

Permits, backflow and gas

The permit counter for Tempe's Development Services Division is at City Hall, 31 E. 5th Street, Garden Level (480-350-4311). Plumbing and mechanical permits are required when applicable, and a leak repair is exempt only if it does not involve replacing or rearranging valves, pipes or fixtures. Tempe's Backflow Prevention Program is run by Environmental Services, and its inspectors check cross connections during their visits.

Southwest Gas supplies natural gas in Tempe. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020 from a safe spot.

Tempe versus Phoenix, and what to expect

Both cities run their own water with chlorine disinfection, but Tempe has a separate utility, its own permit rules and a wider spread in hardness. For a main break or other water emergency, Tempe's water emergency line is 480-350-2837; customer service is 480-350-8361. For anything on your side of the meter, call the number on this page and you will be connected with an independent plumber who serves Tempe and agrees on cost and scheduling with you.